This Is How Much Money Exercise Could Save You

We've all heard exercise is good for our health, but knowing that isn't always enough to motivate us to get to the gym—especially when memberships and classes can be so damn expensive. But there's another reason to exercise, and it could make the cost less daunting: Working out can actually save you money in the long run.

The researchers analyzed survey data from 26,000 Americans, who reported whether or not they met the American Heart Association's exercise recommendations: at least either half an hour of moderate aerobic activity five days a week or 25 minutes of vigorous activity three days a week. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that heart disease patients who got the recommended amount of exercise saved $2,500 per year on medical bills, probably because they spent less time in the hospital and the ER. Even those without heart disease and one or fewer risk factors still saved $500 on average.

Study author Khurram Nasir, M.D., told NBC that this has broader national implications. If 20 percent of people with heart disease who don't currently exercise enough started meeting the recommendations, the U.S. would save $6 billion per year on health care.

And on the individual level, probably everyone's wallet could benefit, he said: "The financial benefits with regular exercise were notable across the entire spectrum of risk including those with and without known cardiovascular disease."